Gasoline tank cap operator



March 21, 1939. J, P. VIDMAR 7 2,151,249

GASOLINE TANK CAP OPERATOR Original Filed Sept. 6, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheen 1 Invenlor '17. P} Vidmar A Home);

March 21, 1939. J. P. VIDMAR GASOLINE TANK CAP OPERATOR Original Filed Sept. e, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 if. P. Vidmar W q By A tlorney Patented Mar. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GASOLINE TANK CAP OPERATOR John Peter Vidmar, Mountain Iron, Minn.

Substitute for application Serial No.

tember 6, 1935. This 39,486, Sepapplication December 8,

1938. Serial No. 244,670

Claims.

manipulated for movement either to an opened or closed position.

This is a substitute application for applicants .1 abandoned application Serial No. 39,486, filed Sept. 6, 1935.

Further and as will be understood in the present streamline or airflow design of automobile bodies certain makers of such types of automobile bodies conceal the gasoline tank, and access thereto is had through a suitably provided door in the rear panel of the automobile. The present invention is particularly adapted for such types or designs of automobile bodies, and consists broadly in the provision of remote control means whereby the panel door and the gasoline tank cap may be simultaneously operated to either opened or closed position by the operator of the vehicle without requiring theoperator to r leave his position within the automobile.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

3Q.. Figure l is an enlarged detail view mostly in elevation illustrating the application of the invention. V

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevational View further illustrating the invention, certain parts being shown in section. I

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view illustrating certain details of construction hereinafter more fully referred to, and taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of a control means.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals it will be seen that the numeral 5 indicates the floor board of an automobile, the nurceral 6 the inclined rear panel for the body of the automobile, the numeral 7 the fuel tank and the numeral 8 the filling neck for the tank. As is well known in the airflow or streamline body design the rear panel 6 is provided in the 50 region of the gasoline tank neck 8 with an opening normally closed by a door 9 through which access may behad to the gasoline tank.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided for the spout or filling neck 8 of 5 the gasoline tank a cap l0 provided at one end with hinge lugs secured to a hinge pin II that is journalled in a fixed hinge sleeve I 2 suitably mounted on the spout or filling neck 8. Disposed about an end portion of the hinge pin H and having its respective opposite ends engaged with 5 the hinge pin and the spout 8 is a spring l3 that tends to normally urge the cap ID to a closed position.

Further in accordance vention the panel door with the present in- 9 is provided with alined l0 hinge ears secured to a hinge pin l4 that is journalled in a fixed hinge ear I5 secured to the inner side of the panel 6. The hinge pin 14 is provided with an arm Ma as shown.

Pivoted as at or spout 8 is a bell crank, one arm of which, indicated by the reference numeral I1 is pivotally connected with the arm I 411 of the hinge pin l4 through the medium of an angular shaped link l8. The link shaped and is pivotally connected at the free end of the longer arm with the arm I 4a of the hinge pin M. The other arm of the L-shaped link l8 has its free end downwardly ofi'set as at we and suitably connected With the arm mentioned bell crank. The other arm i 1a of said bell crank is pivotally connected through the medium of a link IS with an arm 20 of a second bell crank pivotally mounted as at 2| on a bracket 22 erally from the frame 23 of the automobile.

The other arm of the second mentioned bell crank, which other arm is indicated by the reference numeral 20a has a pin and slot connection 22 with one end of an operating lever or push rod 23. It will thus be seen that movement of the push rod or lever 23 will be transmitted through the link and bell crank connections just described to the door 9 andthe tank cap I 0 so as to move said door 9 and tank In in proper timed relation to each other to an open position whereby access may be had to the gasoline tank.

The push rod 23 is mounted to slide vertically through an opening provided in the floor board 5 of the automobile, and a smaller opening provided in a keeper plate 24 suitably secured to the floor board 5. To releasably retain the push rod or lever 23 in a lowered or downward position, said rod is provided with a suitable notch 25 adapted when the rod 23 moves downwardly to engage an edge of the opening in the plate 24 in a manner thought apparent.

To provide for a delayed movement of the cap ID to an open position there is provided on the link l8 at the angle between the arms of the link IS on one side of the filling neck l5- l8 as shown is substantially L- 20' I! of the afoIethat is secured to and extends lat- 30;

ranged in the path of an arm I3a provided on one end of the hinge pin [3. Thus it will be seen i that as the push rod 23 is moved downwardly latter to swing inwardly. and

to engage the notch 25 thereof with the plate 24 the bell cranks will swing to the dotted line positions shown in Figure 1 thus causing the link I8 to move upwardly. As the link l8 starts on its upward movement roller 26 willv engage arm l3a'of hinge pin [3 thus causing the latter to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction to swing the cap l0 against the action'of spring I3 upwardly toward the dotted line position shown in Figure 1. In this connection however it will be noted---that,immediately as the bell cranks begin their swinging movement to the dotted positions suggested in Figure 1 motion is transmitted through the link l8 to the door 9 causing the when the door 9 has completed a part of the are upon which it swings roller 26'will then come into engagement with the arm l3a to initiate the upward swinging movement of the cap Ill. Thus in this way the swinging movement of the door Sl'an'd cap 10 are so regulated that'said door' and capjwill not interfere with one another in their swinging movement either to open or closedposition.

To close the door 9 and effect a return of the cap It! to a closing position, with respect to'the spout 8 the operator frees the rod 23. Spring l3 will then act to swing the cap H line position shown in Figure .1 tothe'full line position shown in said figure ,ior; closing-"the spout 8 and H the'pivot l6 and 'engagedat its opposite end with the axis of the roller 26 willact to return the parts to their normal position,; or from the dotted line position shown in Figur e'lto theifull line position shown in said figure. will be seen; thatwith' From the foregoing it a device of this character one to obtain unauthorized 'accessto thegasoe line tank, and such access may beccntrol'led'by -an occupant of the vehicle. withoutrequiring the. occupant to leave his position .within; the

vehicle.

Having thus described my 1nvention', what"I claim as new is:

1. In combination with a fuel tank-having a hinged closure, a rear vehicle panelconcealing said tank and provided with a hinged door through which access to the tank'may'behad;

remote control means connected .with said doorand the tank cap for moving saiddoor and cap either to open or closed position, optionally, and including means for efiecting a delayed movement of the cap toopen position.

2. In combination with a gasoline tank havp prising a hinge In fromthe dotted spring 21 anchored atone end to a will be difiicult for ing a hinged cap, a vehicle body panel concealing said tank and provided with a hinged door through which access to the tank is had; mechanism for simultaneously operating said door and cap including a bell crank pivotally mounted on the gasoline tank, link means pivotally connecting said bell crank'to the door for transmitting movement of the bell crank to the door, interengaging means on said tank cap and said link means for transmitting movement of said bell crank to the tank cap, and operating means connected with said pivoted bell crank.

3. In combination with a gasoline tank having 2 a hinged cap, a vehicle body panel concealing said tank and provided with a hinged door through which access to the tank is had; mechanism for'simultaneously operating said door and cap including a bell crank pivotally mounted on the filling neck of the gasoline tank, link means pivotally connecting said bell crank with the 'door for transmitting movement of the bell crank to a the door, inter-engaging means on the tank cap hinge and on said link means for transmitting movement of said bell crank to the tank cap,

an operating rod, and motion transmitting means connecting said operating rod with said pivoted bell crank as and for the purpose specified.

urging the tank cap to a closed position, said hinge pin having an integral arm, a pivotally mounted bellcrank, means connected with an arm of said bell crank and movable therewith into engagement with said am of the hinge pin for swinging said tank cap to an open position, said means being normally free of engagement with the hinge pin arm, a control lever, and motion transmitting means connecting said control lever with a second arm of the bell crank.

5. In combination'with a vehicular bodyrear panel having an opening and a hinged door for said opening; means for swinging said door to an open position including a bell crank, a sup port behindsaid panel on which saidcbell crank is pivotally mounted, alink pivotally connecting onearm of the transmitting movement of the bell crank to; the door, a control lever, motion transmitting means operatively connecting the control lever with a second arm of the bell crank, and a spring device secured at one endto the pivot for the bell crank and at a relatively opposite end to said link in termediate the ends of said link for yieldably urging said door to a closed position.

JOHN PETER VIDMARJ 4. An operating mechanism for tank caps com pin for the tank cap, spring means engaged with the hinge pin for normally so i 

